The 30 Best Substance Abuse Group Activities

Creating a supportive environment and keeping group members engaged with the specific topic and with one another makes group sessions fun. Group therapy can be a fun way to improve aspects of mental and emotional wellbeing. The Empathy Bingo worksheet is an interactive way for group members to learn about empathy, develop healthy relationships, and practice self-compassion. The GROW With Your Team worksheet specifically helps with group development, team cohesion, and learning to set and achieve common goals. This can be a wonderful activity to use to start a group because it allows members’ active participation in accomplishing objectives and the healing process. Create a coping cheat sheet summary card that group members can keep with them between sessions.

Addiction Recovery Group Activities

Group therapy sessions focusing on relapse prevention equip individuals with the skills and mindset needed to overcome setbacks. Group therapy provides a platform for individuals to share their personal triggers and learn from the triggers of others. Discussing coping strategies and creating an individualized plan for avoiding or dealing with triggers is essential in group therapy. One of the primary challenges in substance abuse support groups is addressing participants‘ resistance and ambivalence towards change. Some individuals may not fully commit to recovery or struggle with mixed feelings about giving up substances. Skillful facilitators must create a nonjudgmental space where participants can openly express their doubts and concerns.

• A printable deck of cards with 40 positive quotes that can be used as affirmations.
• This involves refraining from engaging in personal or professional relationships with participants outside of the group context to ensure an equitable and safe environment.
• Group therapy is used to guide clients through the process of gaining insight about themselves, others, and the world around them.
• And this includes serious mental illnesses, such as bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and schizophrenia, which can interfere with someone’s life and ability to function.
• These questions should be fun and interesting questions that will help the members get more comfortable talking about themselves.

What is a CBT Activity?

Have clients each bring in an item, object, or picture that represents a fond memory of the individual they are grieving. Members can take turns sharing the memory and how it affects them today. Participants are paired and asked to interview each other to identify areas of commonality in their lives. Potential areas include education, family, likes, dislikes, professional interests, responsibilities, hometown, etc. The “odd person out” gets to go into the middle of the group and provide the next set of commands. Members of the group will get two to five commands that they must perform as a pair.

• For those grappling with alcohol use disorder (AUD), characterized by the uncontrollable consumption of alcohol despite harmful consequences, the path to recovery can be particularly demanding.
• Engaging in healthy, active pursuits provides an effective way to manage stress, one of the most common relapse triggers.
• Try incorporating some of these concepts into your own practice to see the good and healing it can bring.

Drawing or Painting Emotions

You can also spread the affirmations on a table for your group participants to look through. For the group’s first half, allow your clients to paste the strips to their posters. Being a part of a group can help establish a source of accountability for group members. Group sessions provide them with a set time within https://ecosoberhouse.com/ their routine to focus on their recovery. Group sessions can allow members to work through challenging emotions such as shame and guilt. Listening to what other members share can provide a sense of validation and normalcy for members who may have thought that they were alone, or wrong for feeling as they do.

• Recognizing addiction as a chronic condition akin to other enduring health issues is essential.
• Addiction recovery group activities are wonderful tools for achieving and maintaining successful, long-term sobriety.

Ways to Prevent an Alcohol Relapse

” The conversation is designed to help the patient become aware of their own feelings and begin working through unresolved conflicts. Journaling is about getting in touch with your experiences through writing, while expressive writing is about processing emotions. The writing exercise allows group members to remember and describe their most meaningful memories. When coping with stressors, group group activities for adults with substance abuse members focus on building confidence and reducing troublesome stress without judging themselves for their feelings. Whether you meet once a day or several times a week, expressive writing as a group will surely boost everybody’s mood. Group members can later challenge their anxious thoughts by living in the moment, remembering to pay attention to the present, and learning how to stay present.

Inside and Outside Worksheet